Are You Qualified to Have Dental Implants?

If you’ve lost a tooth, or three, and you are thinking about getting dental implants, then you’ve made the right decision. Dental implants provide more stability to replacement crowns especially since the titanium rods, which hold the crowns, are actually embedded deep within the jawbone. Moreover, titanium is capable of osseointegration, a property which enables the dental implant to fuse with the adjacent bone tissues. However, just because you’re interested in dental implants does not make you a good candidate for dental implants in Spring TX.

What are some of the reasons that implants might not be a good choice for you?

You smoke excessively.

Individuals who smoke heavily are more likely to have diseased gums. There’s a multifactorial approach as to why smokers have a higher propensity to develop gum infections compared to those who don’t. One reason could be because of how the substances found in the cigarette enhances the adherence of plaque to the surface of teeth. Another reason could be because of destructive effect that nicotine has to gum tissues. Regardless, individuals who smoke have higher chances of being turned down for dental implant procedures.

You are a heavy alcohol drinker.

Individuals who consume copious amounts of alcohol often have impaired ability to heal especially their gum tissues. The problem with this is that the dental implant procedure is a very invasive procedure, and happens in phases. For instance, the first phase usually includes the insertion of the titanium rod. Before the second phase can occur, the titanium rod from the first phase must first be fully healed. And the longer it takes for your gum incisions to heal, the more susceptible you become for infections.

You are immuno-compromised.

Individuals who do not have properly functioning immune systems are also barred from undergoing the dental implant procedure. This again has something to do with the inability of the patient to heal, not just properly but also within a certain time period. This puts the patient at risk for infections. Some metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus may render the patient with a weak immune system but patients with such diseases can still undergo the procedure for as long as the disease is controlled.

In order for you to know for you to know for sure if you quality for the dental implant procedure, it’s important that you consult your dentist and undergo a thorough dental check-up which includes an assessment of the bone density of your jawbones.